Starting mechanism for automobiles



May 13, 1924. 1,493,908

J. E. TROSTLE STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Dec. 16 1920 34 T t j; m

WITNESSES: INVENTOR @251 Jo/m 5 770517 //f/ I Wwv ATT ORNEY Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' J'OHK E- TBOSTLE, OI SPRINGFIELD, IA SSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & IANUFACTURIN G COIPAN Y, A CORPORATION OEPENNSYLVANIA.

STARTING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed December 16, 1920. Serial No. 431,0so.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, JOHN E. TROSTLE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident -of S ringfield, in the county of Hampden l and tats of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Starting Mechanisms for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates 'to starting mechanisms for automobiles and, particularly, to starting mechanisms having motor pinions that are moved axially into mesh with engine gear wheels.

One object of my invention is to provide a starting mechanism having an electromagnet that shall move an associated-armature a relatively small distance for effecting a relatively large axial movement of the motor P n- Ina starting mechanism hav' a motor pinion movable axially into mes with an engine 'gear wheel -an electromagnet, connected in circuit with the startin motor, has

heretofore been provided for directly moving the motor pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel. However, in such mechanism, the air gap between the frame of the r magnet and t e armature must be made as large as the distance through whichthe motor inion'is moved. Consequently, considerab e wer is taken by the electromagnet for shi ing the motor pinion and, in many cases, to such extent as to interfere with the operation of the motor. 36 In a starti mechanism constructed in accordance wit my invention, a magnet is connected in circuit with the starting motor. The electromagnet rates an armature which is so connec to the motor inion 40 that a relatively small movement of t e ar-. mature effects a relativel large movement of the motor pinion. oreover, the -fieldrelatively lar resistors in order to prevent Al complete excitation of the motor until the motor pinion is in mesh with the engine gear wheel. V Y

- Preferably, the armature of the electromagnet is connected to the motor inion by 50 means of two levers which are so cru'med as to permit a relatively small air ap between the frame of the, mag'netand t e associated armature. I

In the accompanying drawing,

The shaft 8 of the motor 1 extends through 1 the end bracket 6 and carries a motor pinion 9, which is adapted to mesh with the teeth on the engine gear wheel 2. The shaft 8 is provided with a bearing on a cylindrical pro'ection or sleeve member 10, which exten s from the end bracket 6.

The star-tin mechanism comprises a coil -11 which is ocated within the housing 7 and surrounds the sleeve'member 10 on the end bracket 6. The coil 11 is preferably protected by an suitable insulating material 12. One on of the coil 11 is connected to a terminal 13 which extends through the housing 7, and the other end of the coil 11 is. connectedto a terminal 14 which extends through the end bracket 6,

The In tic circuit of the electromagnet, which inc udes the coil 11, comprises an annular ring 15, which is fastened, in any suitable manner, to the housing 7 adjgcent to the coil 11. An armature 16 is mounted on the sleeve member 10 adjacent to the annular ring and is moved towards this ring.

upon energization of the coil 11. Adjacent to the armature 16, and mounted upon the sleeve member 10, is a collar 17, which has two oppositely-extendin arms with bifurcatedend portions 18 an 19. Two levers 20' magnet windingof themotor is shuntedliy and 21 are pivotally mounted in the bifurcated end portions 18 and 19 of the arm 17 and are connected to the armature 16 lg means of links 22 and 23. The opposite en of the levers 20 and 21 engage a washer 24 which is connected, in any suitable manner, to the motor 'pinion '9.

' The motor pinion and the washer 24 are held in engagement with the two levers 20 and 21 by means of a spring member which is mounted on the shaft 8 between the pinion 9 and a, collar member 26.

I collar member 26 is held in position against a shoulder onthe shaft 8 in any suitable manner, as by means'of a nut 27 The end bracket 6 and the housing 7 may be attached to the motor frame 4 in any suitable manner, as by means of bolts 28. The end of the housing 7 adjacent to the engine gear wheel 2 may be covered in any suitable manner, (not shown). Preferably, a copper member 30 is placed between the armature 16 and the pro ection 10, and also .betwcen the armature 16 and the annular rin 15. Such copper member prevents stic ing of the armature either to the pro- .9 into jecting portion 10 or to the annular ring 15. Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawing, the coil 11 is shown-connected in circuit with the .armature 5 and the field-magnet wind-' ing 31 of the motor 1. The coil 11 and the windings of the motor 1 a are adapted to be connected in circuit with any suitable battery 32 by means of a starting switch 33.

Preferably, the field-magnet winding 31 .is

shuntedby resistors 34 of relatively high value in order to prevent complete excitation of the motor until the motor pinion is in mesh with'the engine gear wheel. Such resistors limit the speed of the motor during .the meshin operation.

If it is esired to rotate the engine gear wheel 2 by the starting motor 1, for starting purposes, the starting switch 33 is closed for energizing thecoil 11 and for effecting limited rotation of the motor -1. Upon energization of the: coil 11,-the armature 16 is moved towards the annular ring 15. Such movement of the armature'lfi so operates the levers 20 and 21 as to force the motor pinion wheel 2. In this regard, it should be noted that the levers 20 and 21 are so-fulcrumed on the arm 17 as to effect a relatively large axial movement of the pinion 9 for a relais possible to rate the starting" mechanism =1? air gap by reason of the disby such limi tively small movement of the armature 16. The resistors 34, as heretofore set forth, prevent the building'up of the inotor excitation until the meshing between the pinion 9 and the engine gear wheel 2 has been effected. When the switch. 33 is opened for stopp.

the motor .1 and' for de-energizingthe 11,'the spring member moves the pinion 9 out of mesh with the engine gear wheel 2.

In the starting mechanism above described,

' it will be noted that an electromagnet is connected in circuit with the starting motor for moving the motor pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel as soon as the circuit of the motor is closed. The air gap between the frame of the electromagnet and the associated armature is relatively small in order that such magnet shall not interfere with the operation of the starting motor; It

pomtion of the levers which connect the engagement with the engine. gear.

armature of the electromagnet to the motor pinion 9.

Modifications in the mechanism and in the arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention, and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a shaft and a member longitudinally movable thereon, of

an electromagnet on said shaft inaxial alinement therewith, said electromagnet comprising an armature member, and means operable upon movement of said armature member in one direction to actuate the movable member in the opposite direction.

2. The combination with a shaft and a member longitudinally movable thereon, of an electromagnet havingv a coil surrounding said shaft in axial alinement therewith, said electromagnet comprising an armature member, and means operable upon movement of said armature member in one direction to actuate the movable member through a greater distance in the opposite direction.

3. The combination with a shaft, and a pinion longitudinally movable thereon, of an electromagnet on said shaft and in axial alinement with said shaft and said pinion, said electromagnet having an armature member, and means foroperatively connecting said pinion to said armature member for unequal movements longitudinally of.

said shaft. 1

4. The combination with a motor having a shaft, and a pinion longitudinally movable thereon, of an electromagnet on said shaft in axial alinement with said shaft and said pinion, said electromagnet having an armature member, and means for operatively connecting said pinion to said arma- 'turelmember for unequal movements in opposite directions longitudinally of said shaft.

p 5. The combination with a motor having a'shaft, and .a pinion longitudinally movable thereon of anelectromagnet on said shaft between the motor and the pinion and I ing arms of unequal length for operatively connecting said armature member to said pinion. v v

7. The combination with a motor having a shaft, and a pinion longitudinally movable' thereon, of an electromagnet on said shaft between said motor and said inion and in axial alinement with said she and said pinion, said electromagnet having an armature member, and means for operatively connecting said pinion to said armature member, said means comprisin a stationary member and a lever pivota ly sup- Ifirted thereby.

,8. In a starting mechanism, the combination with .a motor having a shaft, a pinion operated by said motor, and an engine gear wheel, of an eleetromagnet on said shaft in axial alinement with said pinion and said motor that is energized in series with said motor, means comprising two levers operated by said electromagnet for -meshing said pinion with the engine gear wheel upon starting of the moto 9. In a starting mechanism, the'combination with a'motor having a shaft, a pinion operated by said motor, and an engine gear wheel, 0 an electromagnet on said shaft and connectqd in series with said motor, said motor, said pinion and said electromagnet being in axial alinement, means comprisi levers for moving the pinion into mesh wit the engine gear wheel upon energization of said magnet, and resistors connected in shunt to the motor-field-magnet winding to prevent rapid rotation of the motor until the pinion is in mesh with the engine gear wheel.

10. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a motor, a pinion rotatable with, and shiftably mounted on, the shaft of said motor, and an engine gear wheel, of a coil mounted upon the motor frame and surrounding the motor shaft, an armature for said coil surrounding the motor shaft and operated by said coil, and two pivotally mounted levers operated by said armature for moving said pinion into mesh with the engine gear wheel.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto I subscribed my name this 24th day of Nov. 1920.

JOHN E. TROSTLE. 

